Early-Stage, Hands-On Involvement

Our principals have deep experience in the trenches as successful Insurtech founders. We understand insurance and we live and breathe the startup process. We partner with exceptional founders to propel early-stage startups in seeking growth and follow-on capital. Our investments are in unique, early-stage companies that have a solid proof of concept and exceptional team. Our role is to bring capital, resources, and expertise to position the company for sustainable growth.

The industry is a $4T global market, most of which has yet to be disrupted by technology. Insurance is a complex web of legacy players, diverse capital sources, and emerging business models. Investing and growing early-stage companies in the insurance space requires a deep knowledge of the industry and how innovation can be interwoven with traditional players.

Avondale principals have invested in dozens of businesses since its founding in 2004. The firm has built an impressive track record of technology investments, ventures, and partnering with corporations and institutional capital to create growing businesses.  Avondale is a three-time Inc. 500/5000 recipient, and in 2011, Avondale was named by Inc. as the 95th fastest growing private company in the nation.

Karl is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Avondale. At the start of the Insurtech revolution in 2015, Karl founded Elagy, an insurance distribution technology platform, and sold the company in 2020. Karl is a former columnist for Inc.com, where he wrote about strategic and financial issues for growing companies. In his early career, Karl was a consultant with Marakon Associates, A.T. Kearney, and Sibson & Company.  He currently serves as Board President at Youth Outreach Services, as a mentor at the Global Insurance Accelerator, and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.  He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University. In his spare time, Karl enjoys performing as a house music DJ and spending time with his family.